Device for cleaning dentures



Nov. 17, 1953 A. P. JACKSON DEVICE FOR CLEANING DENTURES Filed May 12, 1951 off Z62? Patented Nov. 17, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OF-F ICE DEVICE-FOR- CLEANING -DENTURES Albert: P. Jackson, Des Moines, Iowa Application-May 12, 1951, S'efiaI'NO. 225,978

2 .Claims. 1

'Mydnventionrelates toa device forzservicing dentures and moreparticularly to such azdevice adapted for use incleaningthe dentures.

The user of a set-of dentures Willclean them from time to time and'usually at regular intervals. This cleaning generally consists ofplacing the dentures in a waterfilled container thatmay or may not have a cleaning agent thereinand brushing.

A further object of my invention isto provide a devicev for use in cleaning dentures that has inlet and outlet for water under pressure so that a turbulent action of the Waterin passing therethrough will eifect'a cleaning action on the dentures when placed in this device.

A still further object of my invention is to provide a denture cleaning device of the above class to be used in combination with any given cleansing agent and with a part of my invention adapted as a container for the cleansing agent. More specifically in this respect I provide a detachable cleansing agent container that when used with my invention serves not only to form an outlet for water therein but is designed to deflect Water entering this device so as to create a turbulent action therein.

Still further objects of this invention are to provide a denture cleaner having the characteristics above set forth that is easy to clean, economical to manufacture and efiicient in use.

These and other objects will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

My invention consists in the construction, arrangement, and combination of the various parts of the device, whereby the objects contemplated are attained as hereinafter more fully set forth, pointed out in my claims, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of this device showing the removal cleansing agent container about to be inserted therein,

Fig. 2 is an end elevational view of my assembled device shoWing a denture therein ready for cleaning, and

Fig. 3 is a sectional view of this device showing edges 15* and lB.

J..2 it in operational position while water is being passed therethrough.

Referringto the drawings I i have" used i thenumeral iii to designatean open :top container preferably :of a general :rectangular shape as shown in Fig. land-having at least one rof'the narrower-sides oval-or arcuate as-at-l l. The top edge l2 'of the arcuate' portion islower than the opposite edge l 3 and a notchil 4 .is provided at oppositely disposed-points in each of the :top A step portion-26 on each "of theedges i5 and i5: connectsztothe arcuataedge 'i2 and'serves to accentuate:the distance ofthe edge E2 from the gra'duallyssloping edges t5 -:and

it. "Below the edge- |3 "I providezan opening I! transversely the -container: side as illustrated, to

' the outside of :which. is: affixed. aasuitable' washer member [8.

Thenumeral'il'Q designates as closure or cover member for. containerLl ll which I: preferably make in the form of a containenforsa denture cleansing agent or the like and is provided withatsuitable capped opening at. This closureroracom tainer-'19 is :designed .to xbe rmounted=within the top opening of the container i6 and to accomplish this purpose a boss 2! is secured to opposite sides of the container F9 which engages and complements the respective notches l4. In mounting the container 19 the capped end 29 is placed opposite and spaced from the arcuate edge l2. The bottom of the container is is made on a diagonal 22 as shown in Fig. 3 and below the cap portion 2s thereof a small well or depression 23 is formed in this container. The diagonal edge 22 of the container 59 should extend at least partially across the vertical plane of the opening Thus constructed and arranged, my invention will operate in the following manner. Normally the containers It and I9 will be in their assembled position when not in use. The container l9 will be filled with any suitable cleansing agent for dentures of which there are many commercially available. To use this device, the container is is easily removed, uncapped and any desired amount of the contents poured into the container Ill. The dentures 24 can be placed in the container it either before or after placing the cleansing agent therein. When this has been completed the two containers ii) and [9 are then reassembled as described above. The entire unit is then tilted to the position shown in Fig. 3 and the washer it held in engagement with a water faucet 25. The Water is then turned on and as it enters the container ill it Will be deflected by the battle-like diagonal edge 22 of the container l9 and result in a turbulent action indicated by the dotted arrows in Fig. 3. This will of course agitate the cleansing agent and eiiect a cleansing of the denture. During this process water will pass out of the container Hi over the arcuate edge [2 and the arcuate side H which becomes the bottom for this operation serves to funnel the water to the outlet point. Further, in this operation the depression 23 in the container l9 serves to form a part of the water outlet channel and to direct the water downwardly to its point of disposal. As soon as the flow of water is cut ofi. the container ID will quickly empty and the denture can be removed by lifting off the container l9.

In using this cleaning device no brushing or rubbing action is required or necessary against the dentures and consequently there is no danger or them becoming scratched or marred. In addition, this device is self-cleaning and when the cleansing of the dentures has been completed no further cleaning of the container is necessary.

For purposes of illustrating my invention I have preferably shown the element l9 as serving two functions, 1. e. a container for storing a cleansing agent and as a closure for the container ID. This is, of course, a highly convenient, desirable and novel feature of my invention, but I wish to point out that the principle of the washing or cleansing action aspect of my invention can also be accomplished by having the element 19 only as a removal cover with the diagonal edge 22 constructed as a bafile member.

Some changes may be made in the construction and arangement of my device for servicing dentures without departing from the real spirit and purpose of my invention, and it is my intention to cover by my claims, any modified forms of structure or use of mechanical equivalents which may be reasonably included within their scope.

Iclaim:

1. A denture cleansing device, comprising, a

container in which to place dentures for cleansing, said container provided with an open top and also with an inlet opening in one of its sides; said inlet opening designed to communicate at times with a source of water supply, a closure member for said container, said closure member having a diagonal shape at one end and provided on the opposite end with a depression, said closure member mountable partially within the open top of said container to form a closure therefore except for said depression which will be spaced from and complementary to a portion of the open top to provide an outlet from said container, and said diagonal shaped end of said closure member presenting a sloped surface in the path or any water flowing through said inlet opening whereby such water is deflected to create a turbulent action in said container before it passes out of said outlet.

2. A denture cleansing device, comprising, a container in which to place dentures for cleansing, said container provided with an inlet, a removable cover for said container for use when inserting and removing dentures in and from said container, a portion of said removable cover constructed to form a baflie member in said container extending across the path of entry into said container from said inlet, and a portion of said cover having a depression which is comlementary with a portion of said container in forming an outlet opening therefrom.

ALBERT P. JACKSON.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

